New section of cycle route for Snowdonia

CTC attended the opening last week of a new section of Lôn Gwyrfai, a cycling and walking route linking Caernarfon to Waunfawr. The new section joins Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert.

Cutting the ribbon on the new route

The work developing the new section of the Lôn Gwyrfai multi-use path was part funded by the Communities and Nature (CAN) project, which is a £14.5m European funded project led and managed by Natural Resources Wales. CAN aims to generate economic growth and sustainable jobs by capitalising on Wales's environmental qualities, particularly its landscape and wildlife.

Cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the route were Elliw and Siwan Owen, from Cwm Cloch Farm, Beddgelert with Cllr. E. Caerwyn Roberts OBE, chair of the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

The path cuts through Cwm Cloch Farm and has been welcomed by the family, who can make good use of the facility for journeys into Beddgelert where previously boggy land forced a less direct route into the village.

Sitting partway along the route is the popular Beddgelert Forest Campsite. The route will help visitors staying in the area to access Rhyd Ddu or Beddgelert avoiding the busy and narrow A4085 road that cuts through the Snowdonia National Park and provides access to some of the popular routes up Snowdon.

The scenery along the route is simply stunning. To top it all you can travel in style to the start of the route at either end on the Welsh Highland Railway steam service that runs between Porthmadog and Caernarfon. The service permits the transport of cycles.